Music, theater, visual arts, dance talks, discussions, family events, comedy and the carnival atmosphere of this beautiful city awaits you at the Galway Arts Festival. GAFTV has provided us with wonderful footage to give you a taste of the what's on offer every year at the festival.

Ireland's largest international arts festival, it was founded in 1978 and has grown year on year. In 2010 there were 158,000 visitors, 273 performances talks and exhibitions in 25 venues over the 14 day festival.

It has certainly developed a name for itself in the "festival world" and the Galway Arts Festival now attracts 27 percent of its audience from abroad.

Here's a look at some of the shows from the Galway Arts Festival 2011:

ABSOLUT Festival Gallery

At 40,000 square feet, the ABSOLUT Festival Gallery is easily the biggest gallery built in Ireland this year.  In Hughie O'Donoghue's The Road, inspired by his father's experience of war, it boasts a powerful and evocative exhibition suited to its grand dimensions.

Paul Fahy - Propeller

After last year's successful run, Propeller returns to Galway with another triumphant double bill. In this preview, Paul Fahy said audiences can expect to see Shakespeare dragged "kicking and screaming into the 21st century" as a devilish all-male troupe combine to thrilling effect. 

 Nude at the Kenny Gallery

The nude has always been central in the history of art. At Kenny's Gallery, both sexes are featured in an exhibition of 150 works by fifty artists, many of them Irish. Juxtaposed, the different scales and kinds of media create a panorama of understated beauty.


Love and Money

With this topical story of a young couple’s struggle against debt, Galway Youth Theatre maintains its tradition of dealing with contemporary problems in smart, accessible and black-humored fashion.

The Walls - Preview

Padraic O’Connor previews The Walls ahead of their gig in Monroe’s on Friday. Fans can anticipate a revamped live show, with a mix of classics old and new enhanced by the addition of a “virtual band.”

Bell X1 - Preview

With their latest album, Bloodless Coup, among their best, it’s no surprise that Bell X-1 are regarded as Ireland’s foremost rock group. With the “grand, lush musicality” of Duke Special as support, it promises to be one of the Festival’s definitive performances.

The Tentmaster and his Big Top

As tent-master Brendan Savage explains, the annual creation of the Big Top is itself a remarkable event, a feat of engineering ingenuity, manpower, synchronization and love...lots of love.

Gemma Hayes - played ive in Roisin Dubh

Following the release of her latest album, Let It Break, Gemma Hayes treats the Roisin Dubh to her distinctive repertoire of folk-inflected rock with electronic touches. In this video she discusses her approach to recording, as well as influences old and new.


Macnas - Costume Designer

Triona Lillis of Macnas sat down to talk to GAFTV about the process of designing the costumes for this year's eagerly-awaited street parade.


De Danann at the Radisson Live Lounge

Guaranteed to get you "hopping and singing," trad legends De Danann play the Radisson for the first time since December 2009. Mick Conneely and Eleanor Shanley talk to GAFTV.


Abandoman & Simon Munnery

Abandoman and Simon Munnery put on a great comedy show in the Róisín Dubh on Wednesday July 13th and had a chat with GAFTV beforehand.


For more information on the festival visit GalwayArtsFestival.com.

For other video visit GAFTV.